Preparedness Issues Linger as Ebola Worries Intensify

Preparedness Issues Linger as Ebola Worries Intensify

Article excerpt

With each passing day, unfortunately, comes more and more
uncomfortable, gloomy, even downright terrifying news about Ebola,
which the Boston Globe recent exclaimed in a headline as "the next
great American panic."

As the number of patients diagnosed with Ebola in the U.S.
increases, more and more Americans unsurprisingly feel that they are
in danger of contracting the deadly disease, and even more fear a
widespread epidemic in the U.S. is imminent.

Furthermore, many are now avoiding international travel while
support for flight restrictions has grown considerably. Even school
districts in Ohio and Texas, fearful of an outbreak, have
temporarily closed.

The Healthcare Coalition for Emergency Preparedness shares
America's concerns, especially in regards to preparedness issues
that have not yet been resolved. As we said in a recent letter to
Congress ahead of Thursday's hearing, Ebola has become a harbinger
for our readiness to treat emerging exotic diseases only an airplane
ride away.

Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, recently said, "We have to rethink the way we address
Ebola infection control" - and the HCEP could not agree more. We
should all work together to implement the right protocols and
utilize the best American and international guidelines regarding
infection control procedures to contain the disease and improve
preparedness.

Here are a few simple solutions that can be implemented in a
hurry: utilize designated treatment centers; establish protocols for
patient movement; disinfect solid and liquid waste on-site and as
close to the source as possible; and mobile waste sterilizers.

We know that some hospitals are simply not prepared or shouldn't
treat such exotic infectious diseases for various reasons and that
our current system would be stressed if dozens of patients or more
were infected. Instead, it would be smarter to route patients to pre-
designated health care facilities (or large centralized facilities
in the event of a larger outbreak), that have the proper protocols
in place, a highly trained staff, complete on-site Ebola
disinfection and necessary bio-containment units to treat and
contain Ebola and similarly infectious, lethal diseases. …